End of an era: Red Sox vs. ARod

End of an era: Red Sox vs. ARod

If you asked any Red Sox fan 13 years ago “How would you feel about Alex Rodriguez in Boston?” almost everyone would’ve been willing to overpay for the game’s marquee player.

And that almost came true entering the 2004, only to die at the final instant.

Then when he lost his chance to call Fenway his home, ARod almost instantly found himself in pinstripes.

Thus began one of the greatest chapters in Red Sox history -- and possibly the worst in Rodriguez’s.

Rodriguez got his one ring in 2009, but he saw his divisional rivals take home three -- most notably the one they stole from him in his first Yankee season with the greatest comeback in postseason history.

It took seven seasons in the Bronx for Rodriguez to get that ring -- but time was only a fraction of the cost.

Rodriguez was labeled an overpaid choke artist, despite earning MVP honors twice (2005, 2007) in the Bronx. But that label probably has more to do with his .259 career postseason average as opposed to .295 in the regular season.

And for everything bad that was said about Rodriguez in New York -- or anywhere else -- it was said tenfold in Boston.

Because unlike Derek Jeter -- who took on the image of the respected arch-rival -- Red Sox fans viewed Alex Rodriguez as a villain.

Whether it was the quick change of heart during his relocation process, the fight with Jason Varitek or smacking the ball from Bronson Arroyo’s hand, Rodriguez set the tone in his first Yankee season that he wasn’t going to play nice.

And Boston fans never let that go -- booing him without remorse, referring to him as “A-Roid” and photoshopping a purse into the image with Arroyo online.

Players grew to dislike him similarly -- but for varying reasons. Aside from the Varitek fight, one memory that stands out came from the 2013 season when Ryan Dempster threw at Rodriguez four times in one at-bat during the height of his steroid controversy.

So Boston fans not only gets to chance to say goodbye to the hero of the 2004-present era in David Ortiz this year, but they get to say an earlier-than-expected goodbye to the player that dumped them for the richer, more popular team.

ARod better not be expecting a standing ovation every time he comes to the plate in Boston -- because he’s not getting any.

With his 12-year career in New York ending, if you asked Red Sox fans that same question, “How would you feel about Alex Rodriguez in Boston?” you'd be lucky if all they did was laugh in your face.

But what they should be is thankful that the franchise-altering deal never came to fruition.

Kimbrel returns to Red Sox after daughter's heart surgery

Kimbrel returns to Red Sox after daughter's heart surgery

All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel returned to Fort Myers on Sunday after his 4-month-old daughter underwent successful heart surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Red Sox are confident he'll be ready for Opening Day.

“Oh, yeah. Plenty,” manager Alex Cora replied when asked if Kimbrel had time to get ready for the March 29 opener against the Rays in St. Petersburg. “With him it’s a different schedule, anyway. He’ll be ready.”

Kimbrel's daughter, Lydia Joy, was born with a heart defect. He left the team Feb. 28 to be with her and his family in Boston, but pitching coach Dana Levangie said Kimbrel was on a pitching program during that time.

“The most important thing is that the family is okay with [Kimbrel returning to the Sox],” Cora said. “If they’re okay with it, we’re okay with it.”

The Baseball Show Podcast: Should we be confident in the Red Sox rotation?

The Baseball Show Podcast: Should we be confident in the Red Sox rotation?

0:21 - With less than two week before the beginning of the 2018 season, the Red Sox don’t have all of the answers for their rotation. Lou Merloni and Evan Drellich project their Opening Day rotation and discuss the lack of depth in it.

4:39 - Will Boston’s version of the ‘Killer B’s’ return in full force this season? Lou and Evan analyze the performances of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi.

10:07 - Buy or sell? John Farrell will find another managerial position this season; J.D. Martinez will have a better season than Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton; Dave Dombrowski has put the best possible team out there for 2018.